Cricket: Windies fined for slow over rate

GEORGETOWN, Guyana - Brian Lara's woes continued today when West Indies were fined for their slow over-rate during Sunday's 113-run World Cup defeat against Sri Lanka.

Match referee Jeff Crowe ruled that the hosts were two overs short of their target at the scheduled finish of the Sri Lanka innings.

Players were fined five per cent of match fees for every over not bowled in time and the captain's punishment was doubled.

While the players were penalised 10 per cent, Lara's penalty was 20 per cent of his match fee.

West Indies are in real danger of not reaching the semifinals of the seven-week tournament after they lost their opening three second-round matches.

The tournament culminates with the final in Barbados on April 28.

- REUTERS